Delivering a little cheer
For Treasure Valley couple, getting into the Christmas spirit proves to be easy
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Monday, December 3, 2007 12:42 PM PST
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| Kellen Eckhardt, 15 months, looks around at Santa Claus during a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Malheur County Fairgrounds Friday during the Holiday Faire, where the couple was available to talk with children and have pictures taken. |
ONTARIO - A visit with Santa Claus during the holiday season brings joy — and sometimes fear and tears — to the faces of the children, but for one Boise couple who portray the gift-givers from the North Pole, it’s all about gathering as much fun from the experience as the children who line up to talk to Santa.
That fun translates into a yearly devotion to playing Santa and Mrs. Claus for Beve and Al Bryant.
“I’ve been doing this (playing Santa) for about 10 years,” Al Bryant, who works for the city of Boise, said.
The Bryants were on hand at the annual Holiday Faire in Ontario at the Malheur County Fairgrounds during the weekend. They visited with children of parents who dropped by the Commercial Building to view the arts and craft show. The craft show will continue this weekend, and the Bryants will also be there as the Clauses.
“This is our fourth year at the Holiday Faire,” Beve Bryant, who works at the Better Business Bureau office in Boise, said.
When not doing their regular day jobs, the Bryants can be found entertaining children as Boomer and SnickleFritz from FunHouse Productions. Al Bryant got into being a clown as a members of the Shriners, and that eventually led to being a Santa.
“We enjoy working with the small kids,” Beve Bryant said. “We just love their believing eyes. It has to be in you’re heart. You can’t just put on a beard and say, ‘Ho, Ho’ and be a good Santa.”
The Bryants do about six to eight visits a year as the holiday couple during December, even while still taking on opportunities to perform as clowns. That is more than enough to keep them busy, Al Bryant said, adding that when it ceases to be fun it is time to quit.
It’s mostly the younger children who will come and sit on their laps, Beve Bryant said.
“The ones who still believe in Santa, but we will take requests from all ages,” she said.
While there are those who have their lists, and with the help of their parents, make a big production out of the event, many of the children put in a gift request for others, both Bryants said.
“Kids are not selfish,” Santa said. “A lot of kids will ask for a brother or a sister.”
While electronics are most popular, Santa and Mrs. Claus said ponies, kittens and puppies are still in demand by the children who come visit them.
“We can tell they have put some thought into their requests,” Beve Bryant said. And, Santa better be able to think quick on his feet. One girl when asked what she wanted for Christmas replied, “I already told you at the mall. Don’t you remember?”
Then there are the really heart-wrenching requests, ones they know probably cannot be filled, ones that will continue to affect their lives long afterward, requests regarding physical disabilities or having better lives. Then some children never ask anything for themselves, commenting they have what they need and are just fine.
“That’s really refreshing,” Santa said.
